Basketball game amusement device

ABSTRACT

A basketball game amusement device featuring a playing surface simulating a court and provided with a plurality of openings defining shooting positions. Elevated basket goals are located at each end of the playing surface. A plurality of rods are pivotably mounted below the playing surface, each rod terminating at one end in a button which when depressed raises the flange of the opposite end upwardly through one of the openings. As the ball falls into one of the openings within the playing surface, each of the players depresses his button corresponding to the opening causing the flanges of the rods to move upwardly within the opening to strike the ball. Each player fights for position to either use the flange of his rod to shoot the ball into his opponent&#39;&#39;s basket or block his opponent&#39;&#39;s shot. The buttons of each player are numbered to correspond to the openings within the playing surface. A clear plastic cover or dome keeps the ball in play.

United States Patent [191 Matsumoto Dec. 25, 1973 [54] BASKETBALL GAME AMUSEMENT 297,880 4/1954 Switzerland 273/85 E DEVICE 625,820 1/1963 Belgium 273/85 E 509,932 3/1952 Belgium 273/85 E [7 51 Invento Teruo Matsumoto. yo. apa 1,146,460 3/1969 Great Britain 273/85 E Assignee: Epoch p y y 334,354 1/1959 Switzerland 273/85 E Japan Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham [22] Filed: Mar. 7, 1972 Assistant ExaminerHarry G. Strappello [211 App}. No 232,535 AttorneyStaas, Halsey & Gable [57] ABSTRACT Foreign Applicafiml Priority Data A basketball game amusement device featuring a play- Mar. 3!, 1971 Japan 46-24047 ing surface simulating a court and provided with a plurality of openings defining shooting positions. Elevated [52] US. Cl 273/85 C basket goals are located at each end of the playing [51] Int. Cl. A631 7/06 surface. A plurality of rods are pivotably mounted [58] Field of Search 273/ 1.5 R, 85 R, below the playing surface, each rod terminating at one 273/85 C, 85 D, 85 E, 94 R, 94 C, 94 E, 95 end in a button which when depressed raises the 95 H flange of the opposite end upwardly through one of the openings. As the ball falls into one of the openings [56] References Cited within the playing surface, each of the players de- UNITED STATES PATENTS presses his button corresponding to the opening caus- 2,735,682 2/1956 Sweet 273/85 E ing the flanges of the upwardly within 1H6'593 11/1914 J h p H 273/85 5 the opening to strike the ball. Each player fights for 935,585 9/1909 Campbell 273 35 c position to either use the flange of his rod to shoot the 1,917,700 7/1933 Clark r 273/85 E ball into his opponents basket or block his opponents 1,554,418 925 De am rt. 273/94 R shot. The buttons of each player are numbered to corl,579,l72 3/1926 Weaver 273/85 C respond to the penings within the urface A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS clear plastic cover or dome keeps the ball in play.

297,447 3/1954 Switzerland 273/85 C 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 25 1915 SHEEI 2 BF 2 BASKETBALL GAME AMUSEMENT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the general class of games simulating popular sports, particularly basketball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns an amusement device characterized by its sturdy construction, simplicity of use and variety of amusement features simulating the action of a basketball game. The playing surface is provided with a plurality of openings through which each player is permitted to raise or lower the flange of a rod controlled by a button corresponding to the opening. Numbers are provided adjacent the openings corresponding to the numbers adjacent each players buttons. In this respect, the series of buttons for each player resembles a typewriterkeyboard. Each of the players is permitted to fight for the ball as it reaches a particular opening. The player may attempt to shoot a basket or block his opponents shot. Thus, tactics play an important part of the present amusement device as distinguished from similar games in which only one of the players has an opportunity to shoot. A clear plastic dome or cover is provided insuring that the ball will never leave the playing surface thus speeding up the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the basketball game amusement device illustrating the playing surface and its openings, the basket goals, the button keyboards and clear plastic dome;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof illustrating in particular the numberingof openings and buttons.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating the openings within the playing surface, pivotable rods and actuating buttons; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement of pivotable rods and actuating buttons.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The basketball game amusement device of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and comprises a base to which is securely mounted a clear dome 12. The playing surface 13 is provided with a series of openings 14 surrounded by sloping sidewalls l6. Adjacent sidewalls 16 of adjacent openings 14 intersect to form the uppermost portion of the playing surface 13. As will readily be apparent, the ball 18 must come to rest within one of the openings 14.

Mounted upon the playing surface 13 are posts 20 to which the basket goals 22 are attached.

The base 10 as seen in FIG. 3 is provided with two generally U-shaped supports 24 provided with a series of oppositely disposed slots 26 and 28, as seen in FIG. 4. Within the opposed slots 26 and 28 are located a series of rods 30 each of which terminates at one end in a button 32 and at the other end thereof in a raised flange 34. As will be apparent from FIG. 4, the cut-out portion 35 of each rod 30 fits within the narrow slot 28 in such manner that the rod 30 can be pivoted about the U-shaped support 24.

Adjacent each flange 34 of one players rod 30 is a corresponding flange 34' of the other players rod 30' mounted in similar manner about U-shaped support 24'. The casing 10 is further provided with a series of openings 36 through which the buttons 32 and 32' protrude.

Each of the openings 14 is provided with two numbers corresponding to the numbers positioned adjacent the corresponding buttons 32 and 32', as illustrated in FIG. 2. In this manner, when the ball is positioned within the opening 14 located at the center of the playing surface 13, for example, each of the players is instructed to push button number 6.

The technique for playing will now be described. As will be readily apparent, as the ball 18 strikes the playing surface 13 it rolls downwardly along certain of the inclined surfaces 16 until it is deposited within one of the openings 14. The players may then depress their appropriate buttons 32 or 32 corresponding to the location of the ball 18. Depressing the button 32 causes the arm 30 to rotate about the U-shaped support 24 in turn raising the flange 34 upwardly through the opening 14 striking the ball 18, as seen in FIG. 3, in such manner to propel the ball towards the basket 22. If a basket is scored, ball 18 passes downwardly through the goal returning to play by striking the playing surface 13. Sometimes the ball 18 is hit so hard that it bounces against the dome 12 after which it returns to play. The other player may attempt to block his opponents shot by depressing his corresponding button 32 in turn raising his flange 34. Indeed, one or both players may attempt to play a defensive game by keeping all of the buttons 32 and 32' continuously depressed except when desiring to shoot. It is to be noted that the openings 14 located adjacent the bottom of the baskets 22 permit an unobstructed shot. That is, as seen in FIG. 3, there is only one flange 34" within each of the openings l4 bearing the designation 5. Thus, when the ball 18 falls within either of the openings 14 bearing the designation 5 the player is permitted to take an unobstructed or free shot.

The arrangement of the numerical indicia of the openings 14 and numbered buttons 32 and 32' permits the user to play the game as if operating a typewriter. Alternatively, the user may decide to play all of the buttons simultaneously or in groups. Timing is of the utmost importance since advance blocking of a shot may even cause the ball to be propelled backwards toward the shooter's own basket. Tactics play an important part of the present game which is suitable for use by a young child or mature adult.

I claim:

1. A basketball game, comprising:

a housing;

a playing surface formed at the top of said housing,

said surface being provided with a first plurality of openings at one end thereof and a second plurality of openings at the other end thereof, said first and second pluralities of openings being equal in number, that portion of said surface located between said first and second pluralities of openings including groups of adjacently disposed walls sloping downwardly from the top of said surface and terminating downwardly in a third plurality of openings corresponding in number to said first plurality of openings;

first plurality of rods corresponding in number to said first plurality of openings, each of said rods terminating at one end thereof in a button and at the other end thereof in an up-raised flange,'said buttons protruding upwardly through said first plurality of openings and said up-raised flanges positioned below said third plurality of openings, means mounting said first plurality of rods for rotation within said housing and below said playing surface such that as said buttons are depressed said rods rotate causing said up-raised flanges of said first plurality of rods to move upwardly through said third plurality of openings;

second plurality of rods corresponding in number to said second plurality of openings, each of said rods terminating at one end thereof in a button and at the other end thereof in an up-raised flange, said buttons protruding upwardly through said second plurality of openings and said up-raised flanges being positioned adjacent the corresponding upraised flanges of said first plurality of rods and below said third plurality of openings such that with respect to selected openings of said third plurality of openings there are positioned up-raised flanges of both said first and second pluralities of rods, means mounting said second plurality of rods for rotation within said housing and below said playing surface such that as said buttons are depressed said rods rotate causing said up-raised flanges of said second plurality of rods to move upwardly through said third plurality of openings,

thereby permitting opposing players by depressing said buttons corresponding to said first and second pluralities of rods to compete with respect to selected openings of said third plurality of openings;

a first set of indicia adjacent said first plurality of openings corresponding to said buttons protruding therethrough, a second set of indicia adjacent said second plurality of openings corresponding to said buttons protruding therethrough, and a third set of indicia including all of said first and second indicia, the part of said third set of indicia corresponding to said first set of indicia located adjacent said third plurality of openings and aligned respectively with the corresponding indicia of said first set of indicia and visible to the user of said buttons corresponding to said first set of indicia so as to correlate said buttons protruding through said first plurality of openings with said third plurality of openings, the remaining part of said third set of indicia corresponding to said second set of indicia located adjacent said third plurality of openings and aligned respectively with the corresponding indicia of said second set of indicia and visible to the user of said buttons corresponding to said second set of indicia so as to correlate said buttons protruding through said second plurality of openings with said third plurality of openings;

basket goals positioned at the ends of said playing surface; and

a transparent dome positioned above said playing surface and attached to said housing. 

1. A basketball game, comprising: a housing; a playing surface formed at the top of said housing, said surface being provided with a first plurality of openings at one end thereof and a second plurality of openings at the other end thereof, said first and second pluralities of openings being equal in number, that portion of said surface located between said first and second pluralities of openings including groups of adjacently disposed walls sloping downwardly from the top of said surface and terminating downwardly in A third plurality of openings corresponding in number to said first plurality of openings; a first plurality of rods corresponding in number to said first plurality of openings, each of said rods terminating at one end thereof in a button and at the other end thereof in an upraised flange, said buttons protruding upwardly through said first plurality of openings and said up-raised flanges positioned below said third plurality of openings, means mounting said first plurality of rods for rotation within said housing and below said playing surface such that as said buttons are depressed said rods rotate causing said up-raised flanges of said first plurality of rods to move upwardly through said third plurality of openings; a second plurality of rods corresponding in number to said second plurality of openings, each of said rods terminating at one end thereof in a button and at the other end thereof in an up-raised flange, said buttons protruding upwardly through said second plurality of openings and said up-raised flanges being positioned adjacent the corresponding up-raised flanges of said first plurality of rods and below said third plurality of openings such that with respect to selected openings of said third plurality of openings there are positioned up-raised flanges of both said first and second pluralities of rods, means mounting said second plurality of rods for rotation within said housing and below said playing surface such that as said buttons are depressed said rods rotate causing said upraised flanges of said second plurality of rods to move upwardly through said third plurality of openings, thereby permitting opposing players by depressing said buttons corresponding to said first and second pluralities of rods to compete with respect to selected openings of said third plurality of openings; a first set of indicia adjacent said first plurality of openings corresponding to said buttons protruding therethrough, a second set of indicia adjacent said second plurality of openings corresponding to said buttons protruding therethrough, and a third set of indicia including all of said first and second indicia, the part of said third set of indicia corresponding to said first set of indicia located adjacent said third plurality of openings and aligned respectively with the corresponding indicia of said first set of indicia and visible to the user of said buttons corresponding to said first set of indicia so as to correlate said buttons protruding through said first plurality of openings with said third plurality of openings, the remaining part of said third set of indicia corresponding to said second set of indicia located adjacent said third plurality of openings and aligned respectively with the corresponding indicia of said second set of indicia and visible to the user of said buttons corresponding to said second set of indicia so as to correlate said buttons protruding through said second plurality of openings with said third plurality of openings; basket goals positioned at the ends of said playing surface; and a transparent dome positioned above said playing surface and attached to said housing. 